By Brenna Eller
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio was very honored to present $500 to the Plum Creek Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The funds were raised on Oct. 11 at Hutch Putt in support of the school’s PTO.
Plum Creek PTO President Sierra Armbruster said this was the first year the PTO had held the fundraiser, and they hadn’t set an exact goal since it was up to the parents to bring their kids or not.
“We really wanted it [the funds raised] to cover the cost of conference meals, because we purchased those for our teachers during conferences.”
Armbruster said the total completely surpassed the cost of the meals, which were this past week. The organization was able to use the money to cover all of the parent-teacher conference meals for the month.
“It was a great turnout,” Armbruster said, commenting on the overall success of the fundraiser. She added that plenty helped out that day including Hutch Putt workers, the PTO, and the Plum Creek principal and vice principal who were there to help wrangle the kids in one area.
“We were just super thankful that they allowed us to do it,” Armbruster said.
For parents and students looking to get more involved in future events, Armbruster strongly suggests to Like and Follow the school Facebook pages if you aren’t already. There are two pages, one for Plum Creek Elementary and another for the PTO.
Some parents have come to her with concerns that they didn’t know when certain events were in the past, so this is one way that will help them to know when there is an upcoming fundraiser or school event.
“I always encourage them to make sure to follow if they have a Facebook,” Armbruster said.
Armbruster used to send paper memos home adding that those seemed to get lost. If parents don’t have Facebook, Plum Creek Elementary Principal Tammi Graff is good about sending out emails about upcoming events as well.
The PTO at Plum Creek currently has all seats filled. This is Armbruster’s second year as PTO president, and prior to her current role, she started as vice president. Overall, there are about 8-10 people who are usually planning and running events. Parents also often volunteer and help out when they are able to.
The next big event on the PTO agenda is a Plum Creek school event before the New Year. The plan is to rent out the skating rink for families to skate for the evening.
“We don’t have a huge PTO group of us, and so it’s hard to do these massive events, because there’s not very many of us, but we’re trying to do other things because the families can also get together and hang out in the same area,” Armbruster said.
The PTO will soon hold a Jackson’s Meat gift card fundraiser around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“We try and utilize anybody local that we can possible,” Armbruster shared. “And then in the New Year we have a big school fundraiser.”
Make sure to follow Plum Creek Elementary School on Facebook as well as Plum Creek Elementary PTO for information on upcoming school events and other fundraisers in the near future. Enroll in texts and emails as well.
